Lethal Weapon 2 (1989)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Director:

Richard Donner

Writers (WGA):

Shane Black (characters)
Shane Black (story) ...
(more)

Release Date:

7 July 1989 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Comedy | Crime | Thriller

Tagline:

The magic is back!

Plot:

Riggs and Murtaugh are on the trail of South African diplomats who are using their immunity to engage in criminal activities.

Plot Keywords:

Police | Car | Consulate | Chase | Police Officer

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 1 win

Cast

Mel Gibson	...	Martin Riggs
Danny Glover	...	Sergeant Roger Murtaugh
Joe Pesci	...	Leo Getz
Joss Ackland	...	Arjen Rudd
Derrick O'Connor	...	Pieter Vorstedt
Patsy Kensit	...	Rika van den Haas
Darlene Love	...	Trish Murtaugh
Traci Wolfe	...	Rianne Murtaugh
Steve Kahan	...	Captain Ed Murphy
Mark Rolston	...	Hans
Jenette Goldstein	...	Officer Meagan Shapiro
Dean Norris	...	Tim Cavanaugh
Juney Smith	...	Tom Wyler
Nestor Serrano	...	Eddie Estaban
Philip Suriano	...	Joseph Ragucci
Grand L. Bush	...	Jerry Collins
Tony Carreiro	...	Marcelli
Damon Hines	...	Nick Murtaugh
Ebonie Smith	...	Carrie Murtaugh
Allan Dean Moore	...	George
Jack McGee	...	Mickey McGee, the Carpenter
Paul Tuerpe	...	Hitman
Philip Maurice Miller	...	Hitman
Sherman Howard	...	Hitman
Bruce Young	...	Hitman
Guy Mack	...	Hitman
Danny Wynands	...	Hitman
Pat Skipper	...	Hitman
Robert Fol	...	Consulate Guard
Virginia Shannon	...	Consulate Office Worker
Dan Ondrejko	...	Consulate Clerk #2 (as Danny Ondrejko)
Jim Piddock	...	Consulate Envoy
Kenneth Tigar	...	Becker - Bomb Squad Leader
Jim Birge	...	Bomb Squad Cop #2
Patrick Cameron	...	Bomb Squad Cop #3
Mary Ellen Trainor	...	Dr. Stephanie Woods
David Marciano	...	Cop #1
Tommy Hinkley	...	Cop #2
Norm Wilson	...	Detective in Squad Room
Jeanne McGuire	...	Computer Operator #1
Catherine Guel	...	Computer Operator #2
Lionel Douglass	...	Officer Friesen
James Oliver	...	Officer Moss
Salim Jaidi	...	Policeman
Al Weber Jr.	...	Poolside Card Player
Edward J. Rosen	...	Poolside Card Player
Jay Della	...	Poolside Card Player
Marian Collier	...	Poolside Card Player
Orlando Bonner	...	Tow Truck Driver
Cynthia Burr	...	Owner of Honda
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Larry Clardy	...	Policeman (uncredited)
J. Mills Goodloe	...	Policeman (uncredited)
Beau Lotterman	...	Policeman (uncredited)

Directed by
Richard Donner

Writing credits (WGA)
Shane Black		(characters)
Shane Black		(story) &
Warren Murphy		(story)
Jeffrey Boam		(screenplay)

Produced by
Richard Donner	....	producer
Peter Frankfurt	....	associate producer
Jennie Lew Tugend	....	co-producer
Steve Perry	....	co-producer
Joel Silver	....	producer

Original Music by
Eric Clapton
Michael Kamen
David Sanborn

Cinematography by
Stephen Goldblatt

Film Editing by
Stuart Baird

Casting by
Marion Dougherty
Gail Levin

Production Design by
J. Michael Riva

Art Direction by
Richard Berger
Virginia L. Randolph		(as Virginia Randolph)

Set Decoration by
Marvin March

Makeup Department
Paul Abascal	....	hair stylist
Scott H. Eddo	....	makeup artist (as Scott Eddo)

Production Management
Steve Perry	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Albert Cho	....	second second assistant director
Michael Alan Kahn	....	second assistant director
Terry Miller	....	first assistant director (as Terry Miller Jr.)
Steve Perry	....	second unit director
Charlie Picerni	....	second unit director (uncredited)
Michael Thau	....	second unit director (uncredited)

Art Department
Paul J. Campanella	....	stand-by painter
Jack Eberhart	....	lead person
Jaymes Hinkle	....	stand-by painter
Gary F. Kieldrup	....	assistant property master (as Gary Kieldrup)
Sherman Labby	....	production illustrator
Erik L. Nelson	....	property master (as Erik Nelson)
Michael Papac	....	assistant property master
J. Paul Riva	....	art department research assistant
John Villarino	....	construction coordinator
Mike Villarino	....	construction foreman
Dianne Wager	....	set designer
David J. Negron Jr.	....	storyboard artist (uncredited)

Sound Department
Rick Alexander	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Dick Alexander)
Bub Asman	....	sound editor
Neil Burrow	....	sound editor
Willie D. Burton	....	production sound mixer (as Willie Burton)
Virginia Cook-McGowan	....	sound editor
Teri E. Dorman	....	sound editor
Jay Engel	....	supervising adr editor
Les Fresholtz	....	sound re-recording mixer
Robert W. Harris	....	cable person (as Robert Harris)
Robert G. Henderson	....	supervising sound editor (as Robert Henderson)
David M. Horton	....	sound editor
Joseph A. Ippolito	....	sound editor
Michael Jiron	....	sound re-recording mixer
Marvin E. Lewis	....	boom operator (as Marvin Lewis)
Darrin Martin	....	assistant sound editor (as Darren Martin)
Karen Minahan	....	assistant sound editor (as Karin Minahan)
Alan Robert Murray	....	supervising sound editor
Walter Newman	....	sound editor (as Walt Newman)
Vern Poore	....	sound re-recording mixer
Hank Salerno	....	supervising adr editor
James Simcik	....	adr editor
Brooke H. Ward	....	assistant sound editor (as Brooke Henderson-Ward)
Marshall Winn	....	sound editor
John Roesch	....	foley artist (uncredited)
Carolyn Tapp	....	foley recordist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Calvin Joe Acord	....	special effects (as Calvin Accord)
Jon G. Belyeu	....	special effects foreman
Chris Burton	....	special effects
Larry L. Fuentes	....	special effects (as Larry Fuentes)
Don Hathaway	....	special effects (as Donald Hathaway)
Richard L. Hill	....	special effects (as Richard Hill)
Steve Luport	....	special effects
David Peterson	....	special effects
Paul Sabourin	....	special effects
James D. Schwalm	....	special effects (as Jim Schwalm)
Doyle Smiley	....	special effects
Bob Stoker	....	special effects
Lucinda Strub	....	special effects
Matt Sweeney	....	special effects
Fred Tessaro	....	special effects
Greg C. Jensen	....	special effects (uncredited)

Stunts
Gregory J. Barnett	....	stunts (as Greg Barnett)
Steve Boyum	....	stunts
Janet Brady	....	stunts
Jophery C. Brown	....	stunts (as Jophery Brown)
David Burton	....	stunts
Steven Chambers	....	stunts (as Steve Chambers)
Gilbert B. Combs	....	stunts (as Gil Combs)
Gary Davis	....	stunts
Eddy Donno	....	stunts
Sparky Edmonston	....	stunts
Kenny Endoso	....	stunts
Gary Epper	....	stunts
Tony Epper	....	stunts
James M. Halty	....	stunts
Freddie Hice	....	stunts
Billy Hank Hooker	....	stunts (as Hank Hooker)
Buddy Joe Hooker	....	stunts
Norman Howell	....	stunts
Tommy J. Huff	....	stunts (as Tom Huff)
Matt Johnston	....	stunts
Gary McLarty	....	stunts
John Meier	....	stunts
Bennie Moore	....	stunts
Frank Orsatti	....	stunts
Victor Paul	....	stunts
Charlie Picerni	....	stunt coordinator
Charlie Picerni	....	stunts (as Charles Picerni)
Chuck Picerni Jr.	....	stunts
Steve Picerni	....	stunts
Chad Randall	....	stunts
Mic Rodgers	....	stunt coordinator
Mic Rodgers	....	stunts
Danny Rogers	....	stunts
Ronnie Rondell Jr.	....	stunts
Eddie L. Watkins	....	stunts
Scott Wilder	....	stunts
Dick Ziker	....	stunts
Steven Burnett	....	stunts (uncredited)
Lane Leavitt	....	stunts (uncredited)
Craig Lietzke	....	stunt driver (uncredited)
Keith Tellez	....	stunts (uncredited)
Ric Roman Waugh	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Kirk Bales	....	second assistant camera
Richmond G. Cogswell	....	video assist operator
Ray De La Motte	....	camera operator
Danny Falkengren	....	dolly grip (as Daniel Axel Falkengren)
Frank M. Holgate	....	aerial photographer: second unit (as Frank Holgate)
Frank M. Holgate	....	underwater photographer (as Frank Holgate)
Gary Holt	....	chief lighting technician
Bob E. Krattiger	....	assistant chief lighting technician (as Bob Krattiger)
Geary McLeod	....	first assistant camera
Hal Nelson	....	best boy grip
Charles Saldana	....	key grip
John R. Shannon	....	still photographer
Stephen St. John	....	panaglide operator
Bess Wiley	....	second assistant camera
Vincent Contarino	....	dimmer board operator (uncredited)
Adam Glick	....	set lighting technician (uncredited)
Ron Kunecke	....	musco light operator (uncredited)
Damon Marcellino	....	set lighting technician (uncredited)
Robert D. McBride	....	camera operator (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Barry Francis Delaney	....	costume supervisor (as Barry Delaney)
Barbara Siebert	....	costumer (as Barbara Seibert Bolticoff)
Vicky Snow	....	costumer
Michael Voght	....	costumer

Editorial Department
David Mann	....	assistant editor
William J. Meshover	....	assistant editor (as William Meshover)
Kevin Stitt	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Bruce Babcock	....	additional orchestrator
Chris Boardman	....	additional orchestrator (as Christopher Boardman)
Christopher Brooks	....	music editor
Robert Fernandez	....	music recordist: orchestral music (as Bobby Fernandez)
Philip Giffin	....	additional orchestrator
Michael Kamen	....	orchestrator
Stephen McLaughlin	....	music producer
Bruce Babcock	....	composer: additional music (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Jack Lietzke	....	transportation coordinator
John M. Woodward	....	transportation captain
Craig Lietzke	....	driver (uncredited)

Other crew
Julie Adams	....	south african dialog coach
Pamela Alessandrelli	....	assistant: Joel Silver
Lisa Cogswell	....	production secretary
Alexander B. Collett	....	assistant: Richard Donner
Frank DeMichelis	....	craft service
Terri Depaolo	....	assistant: Mel Gibson
James W. Gavin	....	helicopter pilot: second unit (as Jim Gavin)
Nancy Hansen	....	script supervisor
David Israel	....	location manager
Amy Jackson	....	production assistant
Sati Jamal	....	production aide
Michael Klastorin	....	unit publicist
Gregory Manson	....	production accountant (as Greg Manson)
Joel Marx	....	location manager
Eveleen McCormack	....	production office assistant
Kari Ann Messina	....	production office assistant (as Kari Messina)
Cynthia Neber	....	secretary: Richard Donner
Scott Nimerfro	....	assistant: Jennie Lew Tugend
Michael Papac	....	armorer
Michael Papac	....	weapons specialist
Gilbert O. Parra	....	technical advisor (as Art Fransen)
Heidi Peterson	....	production office assistant
Julie Pitkanen	....	script supervisor
Frank Reinhard	....	production aide
Alicia Rivera Frankl	....	production accountant
Antoinette Simmrin	....	location manager
Michael Thau	....	producer: Rianne's beach commercial (as Michael Benjamin Thau)
Jennifer Todd	....	assistant: Joel Silver
Suzanne Todd	....	assistant: Joel Silver
Ladd Vance	....	assistant: Joel Silver
Ellen Wolff	....	assistant production secretary
Laurie Arnow-Epstein	....	construction accountant (uncredited)
Pat Bentley	....	location liaison (uncredited)
Joyce Heftel	....	script supervisor: additional crew (uncredited)
Antoinette Levine	....	co-location manager (uncredited)
Brian McMillan	....	animal trainer (uncredited)
Charles A. Tamburro	....	aerial coordinator (uncredited)
Lynnanne Zager	....	dispatcher (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Silver Pictures
• Warner Bros. Pictures

Distributors

• Warner Bros. Pictures (1989) (USA) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (1998) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (1998) (Argentina) (VHS) (re-release)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1992) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Warner Bros. (1998) (Argentina) (all media) (re-release)
• Warner Bros. (Germany)
• Warner Bros. (France)
• Warner Home Video (2006) (USA) (DVD) (HD-DVD)
• Warner Home Video (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (USA) (laserdisc)

Other Companies

• Animal Makers  prosthetic animals
• Bill Young's Precision Driving Team  stunt driving (as Bill Young's Driving Team)
• Califon Productions  excerpt from "The Wheel of Fortune"
• Columbia Pictures Industries  Three Stooges excerpt from "Three Missing Links"
• D. Bassett & Associates  negative cutting
• Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department  special thanks (as L.A. County Sherrif's Department)
• L.A.P.D. Bomb Squad  special thanks
• Los Angeles Police Department  special thanks
• Massard Associates Inc.  stilt house consultant
• Pacific Title  end titles
• Pacific Title  opticals
• Paula Silver Ltd.  main titles design
• TAJ Soundworks  foley
• The Lion Wild Animal Rentals  animals provided by (as the lion wild animals)
• Tony's Food Service  catering
• Video Image  24 frame video playback
• Vista Group  special thanks
• Warner Bros. Records  soundtrack
• Movie Movers  cast trailers
• Panavision  cameras and lenses
• Technicolor  color

Runtime:

114 min | Germany:108 min (cut version) | USA:118 min (director's cut)

Country:

USA

Language:

Afrikaans | English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Dolby (35 mm prints)

Certification:

USA:R (certificate #29848) | Brazil:16 | Iceland:16 | Finland:K-15 (director's cut) | New Zealand:M | South Korea:15 | Argentina:16 | Australia:M | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:18A | Chile:18 | Finland:K-16 | France:U | Ireland:18 | Netherlands:12 | Norway:18 | Singapore:M18 | South Korea:18 (director's cut) | Sweden:15 | UK:15 (original rating) (cut) | UK:18 (video rating) (cut) | USA:Unrated (director's cut) | West Germany:16 | West Germany:18 (director's cut) | Thailand:R-14

Filming Locations:

2nd Street Tunnel, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Silver Pictures

Trivia:

The body count is 33, the highest of the 'Lethal Weapon' series.

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: When Riggs shoots the padlock off the shipping container, he uses a gun equipped with a silencer. The shots, however, are not silenced.

Quotes:

Martin Riggs: She's got a great body. She makes you want to buy rubbers.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Maverick (1994)

Soundtrack:

Cheer Down

Quite possibly one of the best sequels of all time...

"Lethal Weapon 2" is the type of sequel you don't screw with, for fear of getting seriously beat up if you do. Luckily the praise comes as easily as the film is good -- and boy, is it good.

If you haven't seen "Lethal Weapon" (1987), get off your computer, drop that Cheez-It out of your hand, rush to your closest video outlet and buy it. If you have seen it, then drop that Cheez-It out of your hand, rush to your closest video outlet and buy the sequel, "Lethal Weapon 2." It's a real ball-breaker, a bruiser, the type of film where the heroes get beat up mercilessly but when they get mad, boy are they mad, and they tear apart everything in their path that is standing in their way. There's a particular shoot-out scene aboard a docked ship where Riggs (Mel Gibson) goes on a rampage and really kicks butt with a vengeance.

But I think I'm getting ahead of myself.

The film opens with a high-speed car chase on a freeway in Downtown LA. Martin Riggs and Roger Murtaugh (Danny Glover) are in hot pursuit, tearing up Murtaugh's wife's brand-new car as they chase the speeder through an underground tunnel, up a bridge, and so on and so forth.

When they finally catch the speeder they find African gold hidden in the back of his truck. Soon they are being threatened to stay off of the case by African diplomats, one of whom Riggs really enjoys annoying. They can't arrest them because of diplomatic immunity, so Riggs goes in and shoots up the place where they're staying.

Riggs finds himself a new girl (Patsy Kensit), while Murtaugh protects a federal witness named Leo Getz (Joe Pesci), a lovable little blabbermouth who likes being one of the cops. He waddles around throughout the film like a little eager puppy, ready to do anything he's told. Of course Riggs and Murtaugh pick on him throughout the movie, but their friendship is a sort of love-to-hate, explained in "Lethal Weapon 4" (1997).

What a hard action movie/sequel this is. I had heard nothing very positive about this movie until right before I saw it. I sat down, watched it directly after I watched "Lethal Weapon," and realized just how great of a sequel it really is. It's not repetitive -- it continues the character progression and friendship seen at the end of "Lethal Weapon," while at the same time adding a bit more humor than the first film.

One of the things I praise about the first "Lethal Weapon" movie is that the characters didn't just suddenly agree to like each other at the end of the movie like so many films. They gradually learned to trust each other throughout the film, adding a sense of true friendship and realism to the film. In "Lethal Weapon 2," the friendship between Martin Riggs and Roger Murtaugh is definitely expanded more to the point where they're best buddies. Most of the time when there is a sequel to a cop-buddy film, the directors and writers are afraid to continue the friendship. They seem to forget the end of the original film, and in the second film the characters hate each other again and the progress of friendship starts all over again. (As seen in such films as "Another 48 Hrs.")

But "Lethal Weapon 2" is brave -- it isn't afraid to continue the story. I think that might be part of what makes it such a great, well-rounded series. It never really repeats itself, it always seems eager to move forward and ignore the past. The first film was a humorous, hard cop-buddy film about two opposites learning to trust each other. The second movie is a continuation of their friendship. The third film is almost a full-out comedy. And the fourth film is a tribute to the first three. Darn good filmmaking here.

"Lethal Weapon 2" is quite possibly one of the best sequels of all time. It avoids repetitions, it avoids cop-buddy cliches, and when it all comes down to it, Mel Gibson and Danny Glover and Joe Pesci are such an amazing trio, that even if this film did follow the routine procedures I'd still love it. And you can't say that about many movies.

4.5/5 stars -

John Ulmer